Automobile transmission mechanism.



J. A. REINSCHMID'T.

AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. I917.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- L) x 341mm W Md Flezfrwcfimz i'l W /S Silica/0W I. A. REINSCHMIDT. AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22' I911.

. pgm mn e. 25,1917.

. m mw .5, .Q MY R Q transmission mechanism and has UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. REINSCHMIDT, F BLUNT, SQUTH DAKOTA.

AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Application filed May 22, 1917. Serial No. 170,245.

i which the following is a specification, referencev being bad thereimto the accompany- 10..

in drawing.

' invention for its principal object'th'e production ofa device '7 which is ada was) rotary-motion to at various speeds,

of invention is the automobile tI'M'lSIIllSSlOIl the title sha Another ol;ject production 0 an mechanism which is constructed so as to impart rotary motion to thelaxle shaft at va- 20.

rious. thestnp'ping of the gears.

ds in such'a manner as to prevent A still further ob ect of this -invention is the productionofan automobile transnnssion mechanism .which is provided with cone blocks andclutch cones arranged. so as to be intermittently m'oved into engagement with-each other as desired, thus imparting rotary motion to the various elements for causing the axle shaft to be'rotated at a desired speed.

theproduction of an automobile transmission mechanism which has a plurality .of cone clutches and cone blocks arranged so as to permit a desired cone clutch'and block to be moved into engagement with each other, thus impartin rotary motion to a plurality of ears or rotating the axle shaft at a desired speed while simple and efiicient means is provided for ositivcly causing the clutches and blocks to moved into or out of engagement with each other.

With these and other objects in' view, this invention consists in general of certain novel combinations, constructions and ar rangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the automobile transmission mechanism, one section of the housing being removed;

Fig. 2 isa vertical section taken on the line 2-2, ,Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary secan automobile l stillfurther object of this invention is tional view through a portion of the device, illustrating the manner in which a certain reversing pinion is supported.

Fig, 4 is a section taken through one of the sleeves of a cone block and the various elements engaging the same and also supporting the same?" Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a certain tube connection used in the present invention.

F ig.,;6 is an elevation of the outer end of one of "the cone blocks.

Referring to the accompanying drawings b numerals, it will be seen that 1 comprises t e lower section of the casing and 2 the upper section thereof. These sections 1 and 2 are adapted to be positioned upon each other, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit the ears 3 thereof to engage each other. thus permitting bolts 4 to be passed through thr ears for securing the two sections together in the usual manner.

The drive shaft 5 which is connected to an. engine in any suitable manner 'is provided with a gear'6 keyed thereto, as -shown at 7,'whereby as rotary motiomis imparted to the draft shaft 5, the gear 6 will in turn be rotated.

The auxiliary drive shafts-8 and 9 are carried by the casing, as.shown-clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and project entirely through the casing so as to havetheir ends journalcd in the,bearings 10 of the casing. It is, of course, obvious that suitable packing elements 11 may be positioned-within the bearings 10 and engage the end portions of the auxiliary drive shafts 8 and 9 in theusual manner.

Tubes 12 are positioned upon the auxiliary drive shafts 8 and 9 and each tube 12 has an annular flange 13 formed at one end thereof. while at the opposite end of each tube there is formed aiboxtcrnally-threaded portion 14. It will be noted that a pair of tubes 12 are positioned upon each drive shaft, as shown in Fig." 1, while the externally-threaded ends 14 of the tubes will be projecting toward each other while the,

flanges 13 of these tubes will be extending toward the ends of the auxiliary drive shafts 8 and 9. The externally-threaded ends 14 o! the tubes 12 are connected togather by couplings l5 and 16. It will be noted that the coupling 15 is considerably longer than the coupling 16 inasmuch as the'coupling 16 must be short enough to pro- Q j i 1,251,413

videior the positioning of ccrtain pinions,

to be hereinafter described, in such a man-' ner as to etliciently operate. It will be noted that the couplings 15 and 16 are provided with internally-threaded sockets 17 in their ends, so as to permit the couplings 15 to be threaded into engagement with the threaded ends H of the tubes 12,'ther'eb causing the tubes and coupling upon one auxiliary drive shaft to be moved as a unit.

It is, of course, obvious that each coupling ma be provided with an annular groove 18' to e engaged by any suitablelever or yoke connection, not deemed necessary to be shown, for the purpose of shifting the shifting frame formed by the tubes and coupling upon each shaft. toward either'end of the particularauxiliary drive shaft upon which the s'ameis supported)? -w- 20 Gem-s19 are keyed, as'indicsit'ed at 20, d

I open projecting end's mm aufiiliilryydrive shafts 8 and; Sand these gears-ID-trniesh with the gear fi keyed'to -the' driveishift5 sothat-fi wheif'the drive shaft;5 is"=bein'g: otat cd'by the. engine',-jrotary otiomwill;

be imparted li' "dri through theI gears 19 to th he i cirounifcre ,tovva erably longer than the sleeve 27'. These sleeves 27 and 2T bear upon the tubes 12 and as these sleeves 27 are loosely mounted upon the tubes 12, it is obvious the sleeves 27 may. be rotated without impartin" re 70 tar'y movement to the tubes of the shi iting .frames. Pinions 28 and 29 are formed upon the inner ends of the sleeves 27, \vhile pinions 30 and 31 are formed upon the inner ends of the sleeves 27'. It will be noted 75 that the pinions 28.25).30 and 31 are arranged so as to be in positions'adjacent the ends of the couplings 15 and 16, while the flanges 13 of the tubes lil'u'ill tit. \rithii t luannular sockets 25' formed in theoi'iteigso faces of the clutch blocks As a eons-e .quence, when the'shil'ting frames are moved along the auxiliary drire shafts in either direction, thefi one-bhx-ks-carr cd upon the res'p ert i\ eframt's will also bemorcd owing 85 to tlie-engagement of thecone blocks and the ltlanges and thc coupli|n and pinions.

"jIThe' axle shaft 32 is carried by the casing and projects entirely therethrough, but this shaft 5 Pii ion's 33 a'ml 'tlet and 35 a rekeyed; l'| m'n.-;-ftlie;'axle shaft-32- at. spaced intervals avith respect to'eaeh other and in such ipanfl lier as to pernntl the pnnons 3:! to mesh th lit-h e pinion 2S and thc pinion 34 'to \95 A pjair of standards it" are carried tho,

section t or the easiuginul these standards l I 36 havefa" reduced pinion 3T r tatably alinement Yjvith each pther ffiin towardithc'jin'ncr portions :of the casing. It will be noted by referring particularly to Fig. :1 that the cone clutches. arcl carried upon the auxiliarydrive"shafts so a'sto cause the ends ofjheshifting frames formed by '.the tubes and couplings-2 hereinbofore de- 5o scl -bt zdto project into the pockets. although the flanges 13 of the tubes-12w"! he spat-ed mm t he inner surface o f the pockets.- Since the auxiliary drive shafts 8 will be rotating in unison with the-malt! shiift'S; and since theft-one elutohcs are'tixedly secured ,in set positions upon the auxfiliary drive shafts, it is obviouslhat theeone clutches .will also rotate in unison with the inoreuient' of theshaft. The cone blocks 25 have their peripheries 2tll('\'lltfl so as to -slant. toward the outer side of the blocks as.illustr;|ted in Fig. l. Sl eves 27 and '37. are f rmed upon the cone bl cks aiul project therefrom. although it will be noted that" the sleeves 27 are considauxiliary' drive-shifts; there!) i mg -the; 'pockcts'formeil ,in the. clutches iin' mounted :idjacl-ii'b-their upper ends. 1 This reduced pniiouflit't"meshes with the pinion *SU' and -the pin| on J38 keyed upolrthe axle 'lhe ha rs 9iaa Ior ned upon and are permanently 'ra'i riedj by the. cas ng and these bars 59 'are' irovided with housnu )ortions it) which surri'nuul the slot-res ol' theclutch U blocks as sllllwtt clearly-h inlligs. l and 4. 'lhesr housings l" ar prot'idrd'uith annu- ,lar JI'MHIS ll l'ornied in their inner portions, \\'he|1'b oil' parking or the like, as

shown at. I2, may be positioned Within these annular gi'og'iZri-s ll fn|"('onst.-illltll\g a lubricant for the sh-ri'es. "lhe burs 43 may be carried -in any suitable nm'nucr by the houslngs so as to lit upon the sleeves and prevent the rrevping oi tl tlwrealong, lifla.

brill-r also to prevent the oil from creeping along various other portions ol' the device, It. .120

will'binoted that tln-rlu'trh blocks 25 are provided with internal grooves -l-l.ad'aptet-l' to rem-ire parking -15 and this packing 45 is -retained in position by.a washer 46 screwed intotlu tllllt'll lDlUt'h'. in this n'utnnor. it will be seen that, although lubricant may be freely applied to the tubes and the shitting frames in order to reduce friction between the sleeves and the tubes, it will be impossible [or oil to creep along the tubes 13o axle shaft is'uotcounccted with the drive 90 mam-wt:

in such a position as will cause the outer peripheries of the clutch blocks to be greased or lubricated.

It is intended to thoroughly lubricate all the elements of this device so as to reduce friction, with the exception of the interior of the pockets of the clutch cones and the outer peripheries of the clutch blocks.

When this device is in operation and rotary motion is being imparted from the" drive shaft 5 through the gears 6 and 19 to position.

the auxiliary drive shafts 8 and 9, it is ob-- vious as has hereinbeforc been explained I that the clutch cones will be rotating in .15

unison withthese auxiliary drive shafts. As thestructure is shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that all of the clutch blocks are free from engagement with the clutch cones and that the structure is, therefore, in a neutral If it is desired to impart rotary motion to the axle shaft 31 at the lowest speed, the

' shiftin drive 5 aft 8 is shifted' toward the right so as, to cause the cone block carried at the right frame carried upon theqauxiliary end of the shifting frame to be brought into clutch cone. will be rotating by the movement of the rotary motionwillbe imparted to the cone= a wedging engagementwith the respective At thistime, the-clutch cone auxiliary drive shaftBand, as is obvious,

block and through this cone block and sleeve 1 drivenat the minimum speed,

ment wil posite cnihof the auxiliary drive shaft. This to the'gear 31. From this gear rotary motion is imparted through the gear 35 .to'the axle shaft 32, thuscausing the automobile upon which the transmission is carried to be When it is desired to increase the speed of the axle shaft 32, the shifting frame car ried upon the auxiliary drive shaft 8 is moved to a! central position for causing the clutch cones mounted thereon to be disengaged by the cone blocks. After 'this opera tion has taken place, it is obvious that the shifting frame mounted upon the auxiliary drive shaft 9 will be shifted toward the end of the auxiliary driveshaft 9 upon which the gear 19 is carried,-thus causing an engagcment between the cone block and the cone clutch for imparting rotary motion through the sleeve 27 to-tlic gear 29, and thence through the gear 3'} to. the axle shaft 32. A higher speed is obtained by the movement of the shifting frame for causing the disengagement of the cone block and cone clu'tch adjacent the end of the auxiliary drive shaft 9 upon ich the gear 19 is carried, and the movement of the cone block into engagethe cone clutch adjacent the 0pwill cause, rotary motion to be imparted through ilic sleeve 27 to the pinion 28 and thence through the pinion 33 to the axle shaft 32 for rotating the axle shaft 32 at its greatest speed.

. drive If it is desired to reverse the movement of the automobile and the transmission is at a neutral position as shown in Fig. 1, the shiftin frame mounted upon the auxiliary aft Bj may be moved away from the and upon which the gear 19 is mounted.

This action will cause the cone block and cone clutch to be moved into enga ment at the free end ofjthe auxiliary drive shaft, thus im arting rotarymotion throu b one of the s eeves 27' to the pinion 32;" 3 this pinion 30 meshes with the reduced pinion 31 it is obvious that the inion 37 will be rotated, and since this pinion 37 meshes "with the pinion 38, rotary motion in the oppo site direction will be imparted-to the axle shaft 32. g

From'the foregoing description it will be seen that a very eflicient automobile trans;- mission has been produced which permits -.the drive shaft and the auxiliary/drive shafts to be rotated at one speedi when the engine is inoperation and at the same time pmons to be moved into allow certain of; the h operative positions us imparting rotary motion to the axle shaft 32 of a speed without necessitating the slowing action of the gears or withoutdangenof strippgig the gears or pinions.- It will further that'since the shifting frames ammovaar mounted upon; the auxiliary drive shafts,

they may bemoved in either directionivery easily so as to move at one time one-ofithe clutch blocks into engagement with one ofthe clutch cones and at the same time moving the remaining cone block away froigthe remainin cone clutch.

It wt 1 further be seen that ,very a cient means is provided for lubricating thei'vari ou's revolving elements of the transmission without allowing lubricant to-be directed nism of the class described, the combination of a drive shaft, an, auxiliary drive shaft,

anaxle shaft, means for imparting rotary 'motion from said drive shaft to said auxiliary'drive shaft, clutches carried upon said auxiliary drive shaft, pinioris'co'nnected to saidxclutches, pinions mounted u on said axle shaft and meshing with said rat-mentioned pinions, means for moving said clutches into operative or inoperative positions whereby rotary motion may be im- 1n tion, pinious connected to said eluteh lneehnnism. piuions keyed upon said axle shaft whereinwhen said 'eluteh mechanism is moved into an operative position rotary-inotion will be imparted through said pinions 20 to said axle. shaft.

I 3. In an automobile transmission meehansm of the elass deseribed. the et'niihinatibn of a drive shaft, an auxiliary drive shaft,

. means for imparting rotary motion fromg -said drive shaft to said auxiliaryrlri've shaft. an axle shaft, eone elutehes permanently secured upon' said auxiliary drive shaft-. a shifting frame slidably mounted upon" said lltxiliary drive shaft. eone'bloeks [3 otatably mounted nponsaid shifting fraliie, pnnons 'eouneeted to fsaul cone .hloeks, sa'ul isl i-ftiiig frame being \dapted' to" more one.

liloclniuto engagement willra desired eonee lnt.eli: al a single time whereby rotary mo- Q .'l--\vill heumparted to said 'pnnon.an'd a p nionkeyed upon said axle shaft and mesh- 'igiggwitlrsaidfirst-mentioned pinion fwhereby when said lirst-mentioned pinion is rotated rotary motion will he nnpartel le sha ft.

iiismofthe elass desrrilwd. the eomhination 'of a drive shaft. ail-auxiliary drive. shaft,

'jb mcans for imparting rotary motion from said drive shaft. to said auxiliary drive shaft. an axle shaft, a shifting frame slidahly mounted upon said auxiliary drive 4 sha ft. said shifting frame comprising a pair of tubes. a eoupling 'connerting the inner ends of said tubes, flanges formed upon the outer ends of said tubes, clutch blocks positioned upon said tubes and said flanges, sleeves extending from said blocks, pinions earried upon the inner ends of said sleeves. said sleeves being adapted to freely rotate upon. said tubes. said flanges being adapted to move said eluteh blocks as said shifting frame. is moved. eone clutch members fixedly mouuted upon said auxiliary drivesha t ntljntent said bloeks whereby when so desired a hloek may he moved into engage- .from said ,throngh said lastamentiontal pinion t'o-said,

4. To an automobile transmission meeha ment with one of the cone clutch members, thereby causing rotary motion. to be imparted through one of said blocks and sleeves to one of said pinions, pinions keyed upon said axle shaft and meshing with said first-mntionedpinions whereby when one of said first-mentioned pinions is being to tated rotary motion will be imparted through oneof said last-mentioned pmions to said axle shaft. i

5. In an automobile transmission mechanism of the class described, the combination of a drive shaft, an auxiliary drive shaft, means for imparting rotary motion from said drive shaft to said auxiliary drive shaft, an axle shaft, a shifting frame mounted upon said auxiliary drive shaft, cone clutches fixedly mounted upon said so auxiliary drive shaft adjacent the ends of said shifting frame, sleeves rotatabl mounted upon said shifting frame, clutc blocks formed upon said 'sleeves,'pinions formed upon said sleeves, pinions keyed upon said axle shaftand mes ling with said first-mentioned 'pinions. said frame bein adapted to be shifted so. as to move one o said blocks, into engagement with .one of said cone clutehesi'ivh'ereby rotary motion will be imparted through said pimons-to said f axle' shaft;

6. In 'an -ai ltomobile transmission mecha- "nism oftlie elass"deseribed, :th e combination of a drive "shaft, an auxiliary drive '95 shaft.1uea-ns; for imparting rotary' motion dri shaftto sait'l'a'lixiliar drive shatt,'an 1 'haft, a elntchniee anism earried up; ..aid auxiliary drive shaft,- apiuion earrhalflby said clutch mechanismffig standards carried adjacent said auxiliarydrive shaft, a reduced pinion-"earried upon said standards and meshing with said firstmentioned pinion, a pinion keyed upon said axle shaft and meshing with said reduced pinion whereb rotary motion may be imparted throng said pinions to said drive axleshaft. v

7. In an automobile transmission mechanism of the class described, the combination of a easing having a plurality of bars. said bars having housings formed thereon inter mediate their ends, saidfhousin having internal grooves, packin 'currie within said grooves, burs carried y said housings adjaeent said grooves, shafts projecting throu h said housings whereby'snid shafts may e lubricated .without dan r of the lubricant creeping along said a afts, and means for imparting rotary motion to said shafts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN A. REINSCHMIDT. 

